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{{about|the city in [[Corsica]]|the town in Umbria|Bastia Umbra|the town in Piedmont|Bastia Mondovì|the Argentinian footballer|Adrián Bastía}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name               = Bastia
|native name        = {{native name|co|Bastìa}}
|commune status     = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
|image              = {{multiple image
 |perrow            = 2/2/2
 |border            = infobox
 |total_width       = 300
 |image1            = Bastia, A Marina, Vechju Portu.jpg
 |image2            = Bastia - Boulevard Paoli & Rue Cesar Campinchi - panoramio.jpg
 |image3            = Ferry sailing from the port of Bastia, Corsica, France (52724232725).jpg
 |image4            = Jardin Romieu (Bastia) (1).jpg
 |image5            = Napoléon Bonaparte en Empereur Romain à Bastia.jpg
 |image6            = Horloge (Bastia).jpg
}}
|caption            = From top, left to right: View of St Jean Baptiste Cathedral from the city's port, Boulevard Paoli, aerial view of the port and Bastia's citadel to the left, Romieu Stairs in Romieu Garden, Place Saint-Nicolas with Napoleon Bonaparte statue, Governor's Palace.
|image coat of arms = Blason Ville fr Bastia.svg
|coordinates        = {{coord|42.7008|9.4503|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|arrondissement     = Bastia
|canton             = [[Canton of Bastia-1|Bastia-1]], [[Canton of Bastia-2|2]], [[Canton of Bastia-3|3]] and [[Canton of Bastia-4|4]]
|INSEE              = 2B033
|postal code        = 20200
|mayor              = Pierre Savelli<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=13 September 2022|language=fr}}</ref>
|term               = 2020&ndash;2026
|population demonym = Bastiais, Bastiaise (FR)<br/>bastìacciu, bastìaccia (CO), bastiese (IT)
|intercommunality   = [[Communauté d'agglomération de Bastia|CA Bastia]]
|elevation m        = 30
|elevation min m    = 0
|elevation max m    = 963
|area km2           = 19.38
|population         = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date    = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|image flag=Flag of Bastia.svg}}

'''Bastia''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|b|æ|s|t|j|ə|,_|ˈ|b|ɑː|s|-}} {{respell|BA(H)SS|tyə}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|b|ɑː|s|t|i|ə|,_|ˈ|b|æ|s|-|,_|b|ɑː|ˈ|s|t|iː|ə}} {{respell|BA(H)SS|tee|ə|,_|bahss|TEE|-}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Bastia|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bastia|title=Bastia|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Bastia "Bastia"]{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Bastia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726164250/https://www.lexico.com/definition/bastia |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-07-26 |title=Bastia |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Bastia|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|bastja|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-Bastia.wav}}, {{IPA|it|baˈstiːa|lang}}; {{langx|co|Bastìa}} {{IPA|co|baˈsti.a|}}) is a [[communes of France|commune]] in the [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Haute-Corse]], [[Corsica]], France.<ref>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/2B033-bastia INSEE commune file]</ref> It is located in the northeast of the island of [[Corsica]] at the base of [[Cap Corse]]. It also has the second-highest population of any commune on the island after [[Ajaccio]] and is the capital of the Bagnaja region and of the department.

Bastia is the principal [[port]] of the island and its principal commercial town and is known for its wines.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Bastiais'' or ''Bastiaises''.<ref>[http://www.habitants.fr/haute-corse-2B Inhabitants of Haute-Corse] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The commune has been awarded three flowers by the ''National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom'' in the ''Competition of cities and villages in Bloom''.<ref>[http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html Competition for Towns and Villages in Bloom website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210053901/http://www.cnvvf.fr/les_villes_et_village_fleuris-47.html |date=10 December 2014 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

==History==

===Ancient times===
During the [[Roman Empire]], the site of Cardo with the north-eastern district of the current commune of Bastia and Pietrabugno formed a Pieve: the oldest known administrative division. This territory was occupied by the Vanacimi people.<ref>[http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b5963841x.r=Italia+antica+Tolomeo.langFR Map ''Italia antica Cl. Tolomeo''] {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Bastia did not exist. Neither [[Ptolemy]], [[Strabo]], or [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] in the descriptions they made of the island mentioned Bastia.<ref>[[Agostino Giustiniani]] in ''Description of Corsica'' {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
At the end of the 9th century, the territory or ''pieve'' of Mantino depended on the lords ''Loretesi''.<ref group="Note">Alberto de Loreto was one of the companions of [[Oberto I]], a descendant of Boniface, Marquis of Tuscany, in his military expedition to conquer the north-east of Corsica</ref> They were driven out in 1072 by the Da Furiani, ''Aschesi'' or ''Laschesi'', aided by the [[Marquis of Massa]].

In 1370, the [[Republic of Genoa]] sent two governors to Corsica: Leonello Lomellino and Aluigi Toriorino. Shortly afterwards, considering the great expense and little profit in Corsica, the Republic decided to withdraw and no longer intervene in the affairs of the island. Nevertheless some Genoese gentlemen formed a partnership known as the [[Maona]] to try and manage the economy on the island on behalf of the Republic of Genoa. The five partners were: Leonello Lomellino, Giovanni da Balagnera, Aluigi Tortorino, Andreolo Ficone, and Cristoforo Maruffo. They all came with the title of Governor and brought with them a thousand soldiers.<ref name="Grossa">Giovanni della Grossa in ''Croniche'', translation by Lucien Auguste Letteron: ''History of Corsica – Vol. 1'' {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

After an expedition to Cinarca followed by a short period of peace, Leonello Lomellino returned as governor and to gain an advantage over the Count [[Arrigo della Rocca]] with whom he would have to fight, he began by fortifying [[Aléria]]. " Then Count Arrigo and his allies once again crossed the mountains and made incursions against Cap Corse: having met no resistance, they went to besiege Aléria which capitulated after four months. Leonello, deprived of all support, returned to [[Biguglia]] and from there he went to build the castle of Bastia to maintain his sea communications".<ref name="Grossa"/><ref group="Note">In a footnote (p. 233) to ''History of Corsica'' – Vol. I, Abbot Letteron wrote: "The foundation of Bastia is generally fixed on the year 1378 but ''The Bastia'' was not built until a few years later as there were several wars between that event and the institution of the Maona" {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

:"Between the second half of the 12th century and the middle of the 13th century the feudal system was in place at all levels of society and new links were created between the elite of the aristocracy and the [[Maritime republics]], between representatives of the island's nobility, and between them and the poor. At the same time castles multiplied. They were then owned by fifteen noble families of local or peninsular origin, sometimes fragmented into independent lordships or even [sic] rivals: {{ill|Bagnaia family|lt=Bagnaia|fr|Famille De Bagnaia}}, Amondaschi, Cortinchi, Pinaschi de Coasini, Lotreto de Nebbio, Loreto de Casinca, Orezza, Avogari, Camilla, Turca, Pevere, de Mari (from the mid-13th century only), and the ''Marquis de Massa and Corsica''".

–  Daniel Istria – ''Powers and fortifications in northern Corsica 11th – 14th Century'', p.&nbsp;145

According to Giovanni della Grossa, the "seigneurialisation" of Loreto would have been, as with Genoese families of the Cape, usurping the County title acquired during the "people's government". Small lordships that emerged from the courts of the Bishop of Nebbio, probably sometime in the second half of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century, were partly absorbed by the lords of Bagnaia before 1247. Then, before 1289, they were recovered and absorbed, like many others in the new lordship of Giovanninello de Loreto. Taking advantage of the Genoese-pisano rivalries, he extended his possessions to the east and west.

Written documentation illustrates the business of territorial conquest conducted by Giovanninello during the years 1260–1280. After raiding the castles of Nebbio and Pureto in the [[Ostriconi]], he went on to the conquest of the pieve of [[Orto, Corse-du-Sud|Orto]], which was then under the control of Bagnaia, and he built two new fortifications: Montebello and Petra di Bugno. These were intended not only to dominate and control the northern part of Bagnaia, whose Cerlino Lake had a certain economic interest, but probably also to neutralise Porto Cardo, which occupied a strategic military position as well as having businesses. It was here that the fortress of Bastia was erected, the residence of the Genoese governors from the 15th century. The agreements between Giovanninello and the commune of Genoa in 1289 demonstrated the importance of this baronial control of land routes and anchorages, a major source of revenue and a guarantee of the security of the territory.<ref>Daniel Istria – ''Powers and Fortifications in the north of Corsica 11th–14th century'' p. 122 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Originally Cardo===
[[File:Bastia maison-tour la Vetrice Cardo.jpg|thumb|La Vetrice Tower]]

Before the occupation of Corsica by the Genoese there were several communities of the pieve of [[Orto, Corse-du-Sud|Orto]]: Soverta, La Vetrice, Belgodere, Astima, and Le Corbaia. All these villages have today almost disappeared. On the coast there was a small hamlet inhabited by fishermen called Porto Cardo which means "Cardo Port".

===Modern times===
[[File:CitadelleBastia.jpg|thumb|The citadel, built by the Genoese]]
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the [[Franciscans]] settled in the Pieve of Orto.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Monseigneur Agostino [[Giustiniani]], Bishop of Nebbio, described in his ''Dialogo nominato Corsica'':

:"[...] The pieve of [[Orto, Corse-du-Sud|Orto]] is almost ruined; it contains 340 [[feu fiscal|fires]]. In this piève is Biguglia with a convent of [[Friars Minor]] [...]. With Biguglia there are still these pièves: Furiani, Belgodere, Soverta, La Vetrice, and Corbaia; nowadays, all these villages have almost disappeared."

–  Agostino Giustiniani in ''Description of Corsica'', translation by Lucien Auguste Letteron in ''History of Corsica'', Bulletin of the Society for Historical and Natural Sciences of Corsica – Volume I – 1888, p.&nbsp;50. {{in lang|fr}}

Continuing, he writes:

:"It is in this piève Bastia lies, home to the Bishop and Governor of Corsica. Before the last war this city had 700 houses divided into two districts: Terranova and Terravecchia. There was formerly in this place a castle or tower, or rather a fortress of the kind called on the continent ''Bastie'' [...]. Terravecchia was an open area which is now burned and ruined largely as a result of the war. The land is very steep on the lower slopes and walking is very painful; on the other hand the Terranova area is generally flat, with fairly wide streets and many modern houses. It is surrounded not only by a solid wall, which forms a continuous enclosure, but a wide and deep moat and magnificent bastions. The wall was begun in the time of Tomasino de Campofregoso, then lord of the island, and completed later through the efforts of the [[Bank of Saint George]]. The bastions and the moat were made by that same bank and by the Genoese government during the last war. The bank has added a very beautiful citadel but the benefits do not match the expense it required during its construction; it cost, in fact, 25,000 [[ducat]]s. Bastia has two convents of [[Friars Minor]], one of [[Recollects]], and the other [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]]. This city, being the governor's residence, prospered greatly but it also had much to suffer in recent wars. Although the main centre on the island many people were of the opinion that its importance will hardly increase. The first reason they give is that the population of the city is composed of Genoese and Corsicans: the Genoese, from Rivières, belong to the lower class. Most Corsicans also belonged in this class. There is a jealousy and rivalry between the inhabitants of Bastia so great that few mind the interests of the city: they apply themselves only to deceit and to oust each other and that is where we get all the evil. The second reason is that the city has no port. It has in fact a small bay where it is possible to relax on small boats. On the other hand, houses, until now, have been very poorly distributed. There is not one that has a stable nor even a well or a cistern, so that it is necessary to fetch water from the fountain outside. Also in summer the water is very hot because it comes from far away via an [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueduct]].

:The cellars are far from being good. Bastia is built on a rocky ground, where ducts and sewers can be dug only with great difficulty. The city has no pleasant walks and is also very exposed to the West Wind which sometimes lasts for eight or ten days, so we can not leave home because the wind is so strong that it shakes the houses. What is more advantageous for Bastia is to be near fertile country that produces some wine, such as at Cap Corse, and elsewhere wheat, as on the higher pièves. There is a at the doorstep and only a short distance from Piombino and other mainland locations. It is for these reasons, and not for others, that the Board has chosen Bastia to make the residence of its governors: because there is nowhere on the island where the governor would be better off than at Bastia".

–  Agostino Giustiniani in ''Description of Corsica'', translation by Lucien Auguste Letteron in ''History of Corsica''. {{in lang|fr}}

He ends his description as follows:

:"There were still in the piève of Orto two small villages with the main pieve church dedicated to Saint Mary. These two villages and the church were ruined after the last [[Bubonis plague|plague]] and also because of the negligence of the piévans. After Porraggia comes Punta d'Arco and the Chiurlino Lake, about ten miles long, which can be entered only by very small boats. In this lake is an island, where there is good hunting for [[wild boar]]. This place is called the island. There are also two other small islands where fishermen stay: one is called ''Ischia nova'' which became famous in the recent wars and the other is called ''Ischia Vacchia''. There is fishing in this lake for ''cephalic'' (cefalu or mazzardi), [[Mullet (fish)|mullet]] (muggini), and other fish that make excellent [[Botargo]]. These fish and eels are taken in large quantities and serve as ordinary food for the inhabitants of Bastia, not to mention the fish that comes from the pièves of Orto, Mariana and Mercurio. Then comes the Port of Lo Pino then the Gulf of Bastia, which is called ''Portocardo'' by the sailors. There is then the Ruisseau de S. Nicolas, then successively the Port of Toga, Grigione, the port and Ruisseau di Pietranera where there is a tower."

–  Agostino Giustiniani in ''Description of Corsica'', translation by Lucien Auguste Letteron in ''History of Corsica''. {{in lang|fr}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}}

===The Genoese era===
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
The Genoese soon felt the need to protect Bastia from invasions coming from the sea and began to build a bastiglia (moat) and a citadel in the time of governor Leonello Lomellini.

Over time, the ''Bastiglia'' (Bastia) has grown, become prosperous, and become more important than Cardo.

Its history is in its "bastiglia" or citadel which was originally a walled city. Here it was the sea and the mountains that determined the location of habitations as well as the relief of the island. Bastia was the capital at the time of the Genoese domination. It spread to the slopes later, drawn toward the water in the ''Place Saint-Nicolas''.

Created by the Genoese patrician Leonello Lomellini in 1353 to liaise with Genoa, the city originated on the roack where a tower was built (a ''bastiglia'', hence its name) and, a hundred years later, was surrounded by walls.

At the beginning of the 18th century, many improvements were made in the Punta district, where many shops were built. Bastia and the whole island came under French military domination on 8 May 1769.

In 1794, during a war with [[Revolutionary France]], British troops under [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Nelson]] and Lieutenant-General [[David Dundas (British Army officer)|David Dundas]] briefly [[Siege of Bastia|captured Bastia]].

In 1848, Bastia took 44 hectares from [[Ville-di-Pietrabugno]].

===Heraldry===
{{Blazon-arms
|img1=Blason Ville fr Bastia.svg
|legend1=Arms of Bastia 
|text=

'''Blazon:'''<br/>
''Azure, a fortress Argent, turreted, masoned, windows, and port of Sable on a terrace in base Vert.''
}}

==Geography==

Located in the North-East of [[Corsica]] at the base of the [[Cap Corse]], between the [[sea]] and the mountain, Bastia is the principal [[port]] of the island. The city is located {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} away from the northern tip of the Cap Corse, {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} west from [[Elba]], an Italian island, and {{convert|90|km|0|abbr=on}} away from continental [[Italy]] which can be seen a few days per year when visibility is excellent.

[[File:Bastia Serra di Pigno.jpg|thumb|alt=Bastia seen from the "Pigno"|left|The city of Bastia as seen from the "Pigno": notice the lack of constructions in the foreground and the city along the coast in the background]]

In terms of geography, Bastia is defined by its position between the sea and the mountain. The city is located on the Eastern side of the "Serra di Pignu", a {{convert|960|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} mountain (see photo opposite). This steep mountain and several hills in the city shape a relief typical of the [[Cap Corse]]. This pronounced landscape caused the city to develop mostly on a coastal band about {{convert|1.5|km|0|abbr=on}} wide, which is a very limited part of the {{convert|19.38|km²|2|abbr=on}} that the [[Communes of France|commune]] has.

Above all, Bastia is a [[port]], and the [[sea]] has of course a significant role in the spatial organization of the city. Bastia possesses nowadays three different [[port]]s. The old port ("Vieux Port" in [[French language|French]] and "Portu Vechju" in [[Corsican language|Corsican]]), located in a remarkable and narrow cove, offers good natural shelter against the climatic hazards of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Thus, it was at the core of the initial development of the city. Nowadays, many pleasure and fishing boats are still there, but it is not as economically vital than the other more modern ports, although its touristic and aesthetic charm almost makes the old port the official emblem of the city. In fact, many cafés, bars and restaurants have moved to its docks to which access is granted by the city for pedestrians only during summer evenings.

A bit more to the north is located the commercial and ferry port. As a major economic asset of the city, the "port de commerce" is the pulse of the city. It is even more so during the summer when ferry arrivals and departures of thousands of passengers and cars can sometimes cause long traffic jams along the north–south axis, the national road RN193. In front of the commercial port, the large Saint-Nicolas square represents the heart of the city. Just north of the commercial port, the Toga [[marina]], named after a city neighborhood, is a harbor for leisure boating activities like sailing and yachting. There are also some bars, restaurants and night clubs on its docks.

Thus, Bastia is organized on a relatively narrow north–south axis which can make access to the city centre difficult under particular circumstances.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Nowadays, the city centre is mainly composed of the "citadelle", the stronghold, also called Terra-Nova, with the [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] Governors' Palace, the old port and port quarter and the market plaza, and finally the ensemble of buildings along the "Boulevard Paoli", the main commercial street of the city, which lies from the Justice Court to the Avenue Maréchal Sebastiani.

During the last few decades,{{when|date=May 2022}} Bastia and its region have experienced a strong demographic growth, which has caused somewhat of a suburban crawl in the south of the city, because of the congestion of the city center.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

===Geology and relief===
The commune is located in the Alpine Eastern Corsica region <ref group="Note">This region consists of a range of terrain resulting from a vanished ocean called ''Liguro-Piedmont'' (in the [[Tethys ocean]] whose age is between 170 to 60 Million years old) and its continental margins. The age of the Alpine Corsica region ranges from [[Triassic]] to recent.</ref> which is formed from "a succession of [[Autochthon (geology)|autochthons]] (fixed terrain), para-autochtons (weakly displaced terrain) and especially [[allochthon]]s (highly displaced terrain). The first two coincide roughly with the central depression. The allochhtons are mainly in the area of lustrous [[schist]]s and [[ophiolite]]s corresponding to the eastern relief ([[Cap Corse]] and Castagniccia)".<ref>[http://cgo.asso.free.fr/telechargement/LaCorse2010.doc ''Corsica – Simplified Geological Map of Corsica''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034551/http://cgo.asso.free.fr/telechargement/LaCorse2010.doc |date=4 March 2016 }}, Geology Centre of Oisans p. 6 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Its base rests on a granite bedrock ([[Felsic]] granites from the [[Variscan orogeny|Hercynian]], plain rocks), which has been covered with oceanic layers of:

* Sedimentary rocks ([[Miocene]] to [[Quaternary]]) on the east coast, ranging from the mouth of the ''Ruisseau de Lupino'' north to the south bank of the mouth of the [[Travo River|Travo]]
* lustrous [[schist]]s along the entire eastern side of Cap Corse,
* ophiolite deposited in eastern Corsica during the [[Eocene]] period.

Note the presence of [[copper]] ore in Cardo which was once the subject of a concession.

Geographically, Bastia is characterized by its location between the sea and the mountains. The commune lies on the eastern flank of the "Serra di Pignu" a mountain which rises to 960 m above sea level. This steep mountain with other hills around Bastia forms the typical terrain of Cap Corse. This pronounced relief largely explains the development of the city on a coastal strip of about 1.5&nbsp;km in width which is a very limited proportion of the 19.38 km2 of the whole commune.

===Hydrography===
The river network is sparse. There are three small streams (or ''fiumes'') flowing from west to east:

* in the north the Ruisseau Fiuminale rises in the north-west of the commune 400 m north-east of Monte Muzzone (920 m).<ref>{{Sandre|Y7320540|Ruisseau Fiuminale|access-date=3 June 2022}}</ref> Along its length of 4.3 kilometres it forms the border between the communes of Bastia and [[Ville-di-Pietrabugno]] from its source to the roundabout of the Annunciation. Part of its course is covered in the city from the path of the Annunciation to the port where it empties into the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]. It is fed by the ''Ruisseau de Cardo''.<ref group ="Note">The ''Ruisseau de Cardo'' is not mentioned in the Sandre database</ref>
* in the centre, the ''Ruisseau de Lupino'' is also 4.3 kilometres long with its source in the commune near the Cima Orcaio (769 m).<ref>{{Sandre|Y7320520|Ruisseau de Lupino|access-date=3 June 2022}}</ref> The stream is covered from the Abbatoir crossroad to its mouth.
* in the south the Ruisseau de Corbaia, 5.3 kilometres long.<ref>{{Sandre|Y7320500|Ruisseau de Corbaia|access-date=3 June 2022}}</ref> Its source is in the old quarry near the [[Col de Teghime]].

===Climate and vegetation===
Bastia possesses a [[Mediterranean climate]]. The average annual temperature is {{convert|16.3|°C|0|abbr=on}} and the average coldest night of the year barely goes below freezing. Winds are frequent and violent, precipitation copious, but there are also 240 sunny days on average per year.

{{Weather box
|location = Bastia (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1947–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 25.1
|Feb record high C = 26.6
|Mar record high C = 27.1
|Apr record high C = 25.4
|May record high C = 30.7
|Jun record high C = 35.7
|Jul record high C = 36.7
|Aug record high C = 38.3
|Sep record high C = 34.3
|Oct record high C = 29.7
|Nov record high C = 28.0
|Dec record high C = 24.0
|year record high C = 38.3
|Jan avg record high C = 18.4
|Feb avg record high C = 18.5
|Mar avg record high C = 20.5
|Apr avg record high C = 22.4
|May avg record high C = 27.0
|Jun avg record high C = 30.6
|Jul avg record high C = 32.6
|Aug avg record high C = 33.3
|Sep avg record high C = 30.1
|Oct avg record high C = 26.3
|Nov avg record high C = 22.1
|Dec avg record high C = 19.9
|year avg record high C = 34.1
|Jan high C = 13.8
|Feb high C = 13.9
|Mar high C = 15.8
|Apr high C = 18.3
|May high C = 22.4
|Jun high C = 26.4
|Jul high C = 29.4
|Aug high C = 29.8
|Sep high C = 26.0
|Oct high C = 22.0
|Nov high C = 17.7
|Dec high C = 14.8
|year high C = 20.9
|Jan mean C = 9.6
|Feb mean C = 9.5
|Mar mean C = 11.3
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 17.5
|Jun mean C = 21.4
|Jul mean C = 24.4
|Aug mean C = 24.8
|Sep mean C = 21.4
|Oct mean C = 17.7
|Nov mean C = 13.6
|Dec mean C = 10.6
|year mean C = 16.3
|Jan low C = 5.4
|Feb low C = 5.1
|Mar low C = 6.8
|Apr low C = 9.1
|May low C = 12.6
|Jun low C = 16.4
|Jul low C = 19.4
|Aug low C = 19.8
|Sep low C = 16.7
|Oct low C = 13.4
|Nov low C = 9.5
|Dec low C = 6.4
|year low C = 11.7
|Jan avg record low C = 1.1
|Feb avg record low C = 0.9
|Mar avg record low C = 2.4
|Apr avg record low C = 4.6
|May avg record low C = 8.6
|Jun avg record low C = 12.4
|Jul avg record low C = 15.9
|Aug avg record low C = 16.4
|Sep avg record low C = 12.6
|Oct avg record low C = 8.8
|Nov avg record low C = 4.4
|Dec avg record low C = 1.2
|year avg record low C = -0.4
|Jan record low C = -4.6
|Feb record low C = -5.0
|Mar record low C = -3.8
|Apr record low C = 0.5
|May record low C = 3.1
|Jun record low C = 8.2
|Jul record low C = 10.2
|Aug record low C = 11.8
|Sep record low C = 7.6
|Oct record low C = 2.8
|Nov record low C = -0.5
|Dec record low C = -3.3
|year record low C = -5.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 67.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 63.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 63.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 71.6
|May precipitation mm = 53.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 38.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 13.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 21.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 74.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 126.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 134.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 88.1
|year precipitation mm = 816.9
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.8
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 6.7
|Apr precipitation days = 6.9
|May precipitation days = 5.3
|Jun precipitation days = 3.1
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 2.2
|Sep precipitation days = 5.3
|Oct precipitation days = 7.1
|Nov precipitation days = 9.3
|Dec precipitation days = 8.0
|year precipitation days = 67.3
|Jan snow days = 0.9
|Feb snow days = 0.7
|Mar snow days = 0.3
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.1
|Dec snow days = 0.4
|year snow days = 2.5
|Jan humidity = 73
|Feb humidity = 73
|Mar humidity = 72
|Apr humidity = 74
|May humidity = 76
|Jun humidity = 73
|Jul humidity = 70
|Aug humidity = 71
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 76
|Nov humidity = 75
|Dec humidity = 74
|year humidity = 73.5
|Jan sun = 139.2
|Feb sun = 159.1
|Mar sun = 196.4
|Apr sun = 220.1
|May sun = 269.9
|Jun sun = 305.6
|Jul sun = 347.3
|Aug sun = 314.0
|Sep sun = 237.9
|Oct sun = 182.1
|Nov sun = 134.4
|Dec sun = 139.0
|year sun = 2644.9
|source 1 = Météo France<ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191020025034/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_20148001.pdf
| archive-date = 20 October 2019
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_20148001.pdf
| title = Bastia (20)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| publisher = Météo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 7 September 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = Infoclimat.fr (humidity 1961–1990)<ref name=Infoclimat>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200100/http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07790-bastia-haute-corse.html
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
| url = http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07790-bastia-haute-corse.html
| title = Normes et records 1961–1990: Bastia – Poretta (2B) – altitude 10m
| language = fr
| publisher = Infoclimat
| access-date = 8 January 2016}}</ref>
}}

{{Meteo France
|Town=Bastia<ref>[http://www.lameteo.org/index.php/climatologie/1570-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-bastia  Data from the Station at Bastia] from 1981 to 2010 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
|Sunshine=2,602.9
|Rain=771.3
|Snow=1.6
|Storm=33.3
|Fog=2.7
}}

The commune has two levels of vegetation as a result of its climate but also the flora:

* Thermo-mediterranean level: from 1 to 100 metres altitude on the south-facing slope. This level is characterized by a dry summer season from two to three months that promotes wild [[olive]]s, white [[asparagus]], [[Pistacia lentiscus|Mastic]]s, [[Euphorbia dendroides|Tree Spurge]]s, [[Clematis]], etc.
* Meso-Mediterranean level: from 100 to 1000 m above sea level on the south-facing slope and 0 to 700m on the north slope. This level, with cooler temperatures, is characterized mainly by the [[Quercus ilex|holm oak]], [[Maquis shrubland]] and [[arbutus]] but also by [[cork oak]] and [[maritime pine]] (on the sunny side), the [[downy oak]] (on the shady side), [[chestnut]], [[lavender]], [[broom]], [[cistus]], and [[lentisk]].<ref>[http://www.oec.fr/modules.php?name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=114 Office of the Environment of Corsica, ''The levels of vegetation in Corsica''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622034359/http://www.oec.fr/modules.php?name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=114 |date=22 June 2007 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> On the heights, between bare rocks, vegetation is stubbly – swept by frequent and violent westerly and south-westerly winds (the [[Libeccio]]) which become stronger after crossing the ridge of the Serra di Pigno and blow down along the valleys to the sea. The winds form remarkable [[lenticular cloud]]s off Bastia.

==Transport==

===Road transport===
There are three main access roads to Bastia:
* from the South:  by the Route nationale N193. A portion of about 23&nbsp;km is 2X2 lanes between Arena and [[Vescovato, Haute-Corse|Vescovato]] since the inauguration of the "expressway Borgo-Vescovato" in January 2013. This is the major road axis into the Bastia region because it connects the city of Bastia directly or indirectly to all other Corsican towns (Ajaccio, [[Corte, Haute-Corse|Corte]], [[Porto-Vecchio]], [[Calvi, Haute-Corse|Calvi]] etc.) while also passing through the main cities of the peripheral region of Bastia such as [[Furiani]], [[Biguglia]], [[Borgo, Haute-Corse|Borgo]], and [[Lucciana]] where [[Bastia Poretta Airport]] is located. This road is also called the ''Waterfront Route'' from the Montesoro district because it runs along the seafront up to the Old Port Tunnel which runs under the citadel and the Old Port. This road ultimately ends at Ajaccio.
* from the West:, by the D81, a road which goes to [[Saint-Florent, Haute-Corse|Saint-Florent]] via the Col de Teghime.
* from the North: by the D80, which goes in a loop around Cap Corse (the road between Bastia and Pietranera was opened in 1829).

===Bus transport===
The urban area of Bastia is served by a bus network with 14 routes operated by the Autobus Bastiais company.<ref>[http://www.bastiabus.com/ ''Société des Autobus Bastiais''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109220310/http://bastiabus.com/ |date=9 January 2016 }} Official website {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Rail transport===
The Bastia railway station belongs to [[Chemins de fer de la Corse]] and is located in the city centre. There are services to Ajaccio and Calvi. There are also 7 other Bastia rail stops for suburban services to [[Lucciana|Casamozza]]: Lupino, Rivoli, Bassanese, Arinella, Montesoro, Sole-Meo, Erbajolo.

===Sea transport===
[[File:Portbia 01.jpeg|thumb|Port of Bastia]]
[[File:Casa BIA.jpg|thumb|Ferry MS ''[[MS Danielle Casanova|Danielle Casanova]]''.]]

Despite its small size the port of Bastia is the busiest French port on the Mediterranean Sea with 2,291,944 passengers in 2011.<ref name="portbastia">[http://www.bastia-hautecorse.cci.fr/PortBia/images/stats/annuel_2015_bastia_2014.pdf Port of Bastia Statistics 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052856/http://www.bastia-hautecorse.cci.fr/PortBia/images/stats/annuel_2015_bastia_2014.pdf |date=8 December 2015 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

This makes it the second busiest French port behind [[Calais]] (about 15 million passengers).

Ports served from Bastia are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Port !! No. of Passengers in 2014!! %age
|-
| [[Toulon]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:548071}} || align="right" | 25.6%
|-
| [[Livorno]] ([[Italy]]) || align="right" | {{formatnum:529822}} || align="right" | 24.7%
|-
| [[Marseille]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:253899}} || align="right" | 11.9%
|-
| [[Nice]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:340007}} || align="right" | 15.9%
|-
| [[Savona]] (Italy)|| align="right" | {{formatnum:324512}} || align="right" | 15.2%
|-
| [[Genoa]] (Italy)|| align="right" | {{formatnum:110997}} || align="right" | 5.2%
|-
| Other routes || align="right" | {{formatnum:19790}} || align="right" | 0.9%
|-
| [[Portoferraio]] (Italy)|| align="right" | {{formatnum:14283}} || align="right" | 0.6%
|-
|Total || align="right" | {{formatnum:2141381}} || align="right" | 100%
|}
Source: CCI Haute Corse – Port Statistics 2014 (p.&nbsp;12)<ref name="portbastia"/>

Domestic traffic is 47.4% against 52.6% international traffic.<ref name="portbastia"/>

[[File:Nombre de passagers par mois transitant par le port de Bastia en 2011.png|thumb|No. of passengers per month transiting the port of Bastia in 2011<ref name="portbastia"/>]]

;Port Seasonality
As shown in the adjacent diagram, shipping and passenger traffic is characterized by a very marked seasonality. This is explained by the importance of summer tourism for the economy of Corsica. Thus the traffic is multiplied by eleven in the high season (July–August). This seasonality has a very strong impact on the city of Bastia, as on all Corsica. The city must be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to be able to accommodate such numbers of passengers even though it is for a short time each year.

;Port Passenger Market share

There is a clear dominance by [[Corsica Ferries]]:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Shipping Company !! No. of passengers transported in 2014<ref name="portbastia"/> !! Market share
|-
| [[Corsica Ferries]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:5611350}} || align="right" | 74.0%
|-
| [[SNCM]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:854204}} || align="right" | 11.3%
|-
| [[Moby Lines]] || align="right" | {{formatnum:840000}} || align="right" | 11.1%
|-
| La Méridionale || align="right" | {{formatnum:281700}} || align="right" | 3.7%
|-
|Total || align="right" | {{formatnum:7587254}} || align="right" | 100%
|}

===Air transport===

The [[Bastia – Poretta Airport]] is located 16&nbsp;km south of the city in the commune of [[Lucciana]]. It is the second-largest airport in Corsica by passenger numbers after [[Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport]].

It serves several French airports including [[Orly Airport|Paris-Orly]], [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris-Charles de Gaulle]], [[Aéroport de Marseille Provence|Marseille-Provence]], [[Aéroport de Nice-Côte d'Azur|Nice-Côte d'Azur]], and [[Aéroport de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry|Lyon-Saint-Exupery]].

There are also some European routes such as [[London]], [[Geneva]], and [[Cologne]]. The main airlines are [[Air Corsica]], [[Air France]], [[EasyJet]], [[Luxair]], [[British Airways]], and [[Volotea]].

==Administration==
[[File:Mairie - Bastia (FR2B) - 2021-09-12 - 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Hôtel de Ville, Bastia|Hotel de Ville]]]]
===Lists of Mayors===

{{Hidden begin|title=[[Mayor (France)|Mayors]] from 1770 to 1941<ref>[http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesgenweb/resultcommune.php?id=7677 List of Mayors of France] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>|titlestyle=background:palegreen;}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name
|-
| 1770 || 1778 || Pierre Poggi
|-
| 1779 || 1789 || Pierre-François Rigo
|-
| 1789 || 1791 || B. Carrafa 
|-
| 1791 || 1794 || Jean-Baptiste Galeazzini 
|-
| 1794 || 1795 || Casimir Poggi 
|-
| 1795 || 1796 || Pierre-Antoine Casella
|-
| 1796 || 1798 || Jean Benedetti 
|-
| 1798 || 1798 || Dominique Bozio 
|-
| 1798 || 1798 || Paul-Louis Stefanini 
|-
| 1798 || 1799 || Jean-Baptiste Ristori 
|-
| 1799 || 1800 || Pierre-Antoine Casella
|-
| 1800 || 1800 || Ignace Agostini 
|-
| 1800 || 1808 || Pierre Giovellina 
|-
| 1808 || 1814 || Charles Cecconi 
|-
| 1814 || 1815 || Charles Vanucci 
|-
| 1815 || 1815 || Pierre Antoni
|-
| 1815 || 1816 || Romuald Ficarella 
|-
| 1816 || 1818 || Antoine Carbuccia 
|-
| 1818 || 1820 || Joseph Graziani 
|-
| 1821 || 1827 || Jean-Antoine Didau 
|-
| 1828 || 1831 || Antoine-Hyacinthe Lota
|-
| 1831 || 1833 || Antoine-Pierre Lota 
|-
| 1833 || 1840 || Antoine-Hyacinthe Lota 
|-
| 1840 || 1843 || Antoine-Joseph Casevecchie 
|-
| 1843 || 1848 || Antoine-Sébastien Lazarotti 
|-
| 1848 || 1848 || Philippe Caraffa
|-
| 1848 || 1851 || Horace Carbuccia 
|-
| 1851 || 1854 || François Lota
|-
| 1854 || 1858 || Vincent Piccioni 
|-
| 1858 || 1865 || François-Hyacinthe d'Angelis 
|-
| 1865 || 1870 || Antoine Piccioni
|-
| 1870 || 1871 || Antoine Fabiani 
|-
| 1871 || 1879 || Ignace Bonelli 
|-
| 1871 || 1871 || Patrice de Corsi 
|-
| 1879 || 1881 || Jean-Jacques Ajaccio 
|-
| 1881 || 1882 || Auguste Etretti
|-
| 1882 || 1888 || Ignace Bonelli 
|-
| 1888 || 1912 || Auguste Gaudin 
|-
| 1912 || 1917 || Jean-Baptiste de Caraffa
|-
| 1917 || 1919 || Lucien Dupello 
|-
| 1919 || 1937 || Emile Sari 
|-
| 1937 || 1941 || Hyacinthe de Montera 
|}
{{Hidden end}}

;Mayors from 1941

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! From !! To !! Name !! Party 
|-
| 1941 || 1943 || Joseph Gerardi || 
|-
| 1943 || 1945 || Jacques Faggianelli || 
|-
| 1945 || 1947 || Hyacinthe de Montera ||  
|-
| 1947 || 1968 || Jacques Faggianelli || Radical
|-
| 1968 || 1989 || Jean Crucien Zuccarelli || [[Radical Party of the Left|MRG]] 
|-
| 1989 || 1997 || Emile Pierre Dominique Zuccarelli || [[Radical Party of the Left|PRG]] 
|-
| 1997 || 2000 || Albert Calloni ||  
|-
| 2000 || 2014 || [[Émile Zuccarelli]] ||  
|-
| 2014 || 2016 || [[Gilles Simeoni]] || 
|-
| 2016 || 2026 || Pierre Savelli ||  
|}

The [[Hôtel de Ville, Bastia|Hotel de Ville]] was completed in around 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/alexianebaudin/docs/baudin_alexiane_m_moire_pfe_quand_le_plan_fait_fa_|title=Quand le Plan fait façade à la mairie de Bastia|year=2022|publisher=École Nationale Supérieure d'Architectue de Grenoble|first=Alexiane|last=Baudin|page=53|access-date=23 May 2025|archive-date=23 May 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250523143413/https://issuu.com/alexianebaudin/docs/baudin_alexiane_m_moire_pfe_quand_le_plan_fait_fa_|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Subdivisions===
The Agglomeration Community of Bastia includes 5 communes with a total population of 57,276 in 2010.

Bastia is divided into four cantons, [[Canton of Bastia-1]], [[Canton of Bastia-2]], [[Canton of Bastia-3]], and [[Canton of Bastia-4]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Décret n° 2014-255 du 26 février 2014 portant délimitation des cantons dans le département de la Haute-Corse |date=26 February 2014 |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000028664269 |access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref>

===Twinning===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}
Bastia has [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinning]] associations with:<ref>[https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/cncdext/dyn/public/atlas/rechercheAtlasFrance.html National Commission for Decentralised cooperation] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Erding]] (Germany) since 1980.
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Viareggio]] (Italy) since 1980.

==Demographics==
In 2017, the commune had 45,715 inhabitants.

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|2849|Bastia}}</ref> and INSEE<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-2B033#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1800 |11336
|1806 |7922
|1821 |9316
|1831 |9531
|1836 |13610
|1841 |14568
|1846 |15004
|1851 |15985
|1856 |16002
|1861 |19304
|1866 |21535
|1872 |17850
|1875 |17572
|1876 |20100
|1880 |20765
|1885 |23397
|1890 |22552
|1895 |25425
|1900 |27338
|1905 |39412
|1910 |33094
|1926 |36376
|1931 |44628
|1936 |52208
|1946 |49327
|1954 |42729
|1962 |31375
|1968 |38746
|1975 |42810
|1982 |44020
|1990 |37845
|1999 |37884
|2007 |43315
|2012 |43479
|2017 |45715
}}

===Education===
The commune has 10 kindergartens, 13 primary schools, 5 colleges (middle schools), and 7 High schools.<ref>[http://www.education.gouv.fr/pid24302/annuaire-resultat-recherche.html?lycee_name=&localisation=1&ville_name=Bastia%20(20) Schools in Bastia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208092710/http://www.education.gouv.fr/pid24302/annuaire-resultat-recherche.html?lycee_name=&localisation=1&ville_name=Bastia%20(20) |date=8 December 2015 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

There is also a research institute of the engineering school of [[Arts et Métiers ParisTech]] (ENSAM). This institute was opened in 2000 and offers doctoral programs and specialized Masters in the field of renewable energy.

Bastia is the location of one of five regional institutes of administration (IRA) in France for the training of future administrative officials.

==Health==
Bastia has a hospital in the Paese Novu district (Falconaja Hospital) and a clinic (Maymard Clinic) in the city centre as well as another clinic specializing in [[ophthalmology]] (Filippi clinic) in the Saint-Antoine district.

Around the city there is also the Zuccarelli Clinic (Toga district) and a polyclinic 2&nbsp;km from the centre of town at Furiani.

==Sports==
[[SC Bastia]] is the football club for Bastia. The [[Stade Armand Cesari|Armand-Cesari Stadium]] is located in the neighbouring commune of [[Furiani]]. The club was a finalist in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup competition]] in 1978 and winner of the [[Coupe de France]] in 1981. They were also finalists in the Coupe de France in 1972 and 2002, Champion of France in [[Ligue 2]] in 1968 and 2012, as well as National Champion of France in 2011. In 2015 SC Bastia played and lost the final of the League Cup against PSG, 20 years after playing them in the same competition in 1995. The club currently plays in the [[Championnat National]], following their demotion from Ligue 2 in the 2016–17 season.<ref>[http://www.sc-bastia.corsica/?page_id=22 SAC Bastia website] {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

Besides SC Bastia there are two other amateur football clubs: [[ÉF Bastia]] and another club which used to be known as [[CA Bastia]]. CA's highest point was playing in Ligue 2 during the 2013–14 season, however immediate relegation from Ligue 2, and further relegation from the Championnat National in 16–17 led them to merge with fellow lower league club [[Borgo FC|Borgo]], and form [[FC Bastia-Borgo]], who currently play in the Championnat. A fourth club, the ''Football Corsica Club Bastiais'' (FCCB) disappeared after playing in six amateur championships in Corsica in the 1950s Historically each of these four clubs was supported by a different part of the city: the Place Saint-Nicolas district were blue (SC Bastia), the Old Port was black (CA Bastia), the citadel and the Saint Joseph district were white (EF Bastia), and the market area was red (FCCB). Sporting dominance has overshadowed other clubs in Bastia over time. At the end of the 2012/2013 season there were for the first time two professional clubs in Bastia: SC Bastia in Ligue 1 and the CA Bastia promoted from National, for a total of four Corsican professional football clubs (with [[AC Ajaccio]] in Ligue 1 and [[GFC Ajaccio]], at that point in Ligue 2).
 
Bastia was also a city-stage in the [[Tour de France 2013]]: the arrival point of the first stage from [[Porto-Vecchio]] and starting point for the second to [[Ajaccio]].

Bastia was formerly the headquarters for the French round of the [[FIA World Rally Championship]].

==Town planning==
[[File:Citadelle Bastia.jpg|thumb|View from the Citadel]]
[[File:VP-Bastia.jpg|thumb|Coloured façades in the Old Port]]

Bastia is primarily a port city so the sea has a predominant place in the spatial organization of the city. Nowadays Bastia has three different ports.

* The '''Old Port:''' located in a narrow cove that offers good protection against the Mediterranean weather. It was therefore at the heart of the initial development of the city. Today it still is home to many yachts and fishing boats but it is not so economically vital for the city than the other modern ports, although its tourism and aesthetic appeal makes it an almost official emblem of Bastia. Many bar-cafes and restaurants have opened on its quays whose streets are pedestrian access only in the summer.
* The '''Commercial Port''': a little north of the Old Port, it is the major economic asset of the city. This is especially true in the summer period when thousands of arrivals and departures of passengers and vehicles can sometimes cause long traffic jams along [[Route nationale]] N193 despite the existence of a tunnel under the Old Port. Opposite the commercial port is the vast ''Place Saint Nicolas'' which is the heart of the city.
* The '''Toga Marina''': north of the commercial port partly in [[Ville-di-Pietrabugno]] is occupied by many sailboats and yachts. There are also several bars, restaurants and nightclubs on its quays.

===The city centre and outlying urban areas===
Today the city centre consists mainly of the citadel (also called ''Terra Nova''), the Palace of the Governors, the Old Port with its surrounding neighbourhood and the market place, and finally all the buildings along the Paoli Boulevard – the main commercial street of the city which stretches from the courthouse to the Avenue Maréchal Sebastiani.

In recent decades Bastia and its region have had strong demographic growth which has now grown beyond the municipal boundaries.
[[File:Cardu.JPG|thumb|The Village of Cardo]]
Bastia has several hamlets and districts that are, from north to south:
* '''Cardo''': a village northeast of the city, Cardo was one of the first inhabited places in the area.
* '''Le Fango''': an area which has developed recently on the mountainside. It includes in particular the prefecture of Haute-Corse, Bastia railway station, and the ''Lycée Giocante de Casabianca''.
* '''Gradiccia'''
* '''Saint Antoine'''
* '''Fort Lacroix'''
* '''La Citadelle'''
* '''Saint Joseph'''
* '''Monserato'''
* '''Lupino''': a district south of the city, the first to be developed mainly with social housing.
* '''Paese Novo''': a residential district overlooking ''Montesoro'' on the old "Imperial road" that bypasses the town via the heights. Bastia Hospital is located in this district.
* '''Montesoro''': another residential district south of Bastia. It has large groups of new buildings with many shops. Montesoro also has large schools: technical and vocational schools, and a secondary education college.
* '''Erbajolo''': another district at the southern end of town. It marks the beginning of the industrial zone south of Bastia agglomeration. It has the largest commercial area in the city (Hyper U) and a football stadium.

==Economy==
[[File:Bastia vieux port.JPG|thumb|The entry to the old port with the commercial port behind]]

The ''bastiaise'' agglomeration contains most of the few industries that exist in Corsica. However, the unemployment rate in the commune has persistently been one of the highest in France, standing at over 20% in 2004.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} Bastia is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bastia and Upper Corsica.

In the Bastia region the Chamber of Commerce and Industry manages the following facilities:
* '''Bastia Commercial Port''': the port can accommodate eight large vessels (6 passenger ships and two others) simultaneously as well as pilot boats and tugs. It is the second largest port in France in terms of passenger traffic after [[Calais]].
* '''[[Bastia – Poretta Airport]]''' is located south of Bastia agglomeration in the communes of Borgo and [[Lucciana]].

==Culture and heritage==
[[File:Bastia ville 01.jpg|thumb|View from the Old Port]]
[[File:Piazza San Nicola Bastia.jpg|thumb|The Place Saint-Nicolas.]]
[[File:Palazzo governatori Bastia.JPG|thumb|The Palace of Governors.]]

===Civil heritage===
The commune has a large number of buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:
* The '''Romieu Public Garden''' (1874){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001277|IA2B001277 Romieu Public Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Joan of Arc Garden'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001271|IA2B001271 Joan of Arc Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Law Courts''' (1856) {{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099163|PA00099163 Law Courts}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Old Town Hall Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001266|IA2B001266 Old Town Hall Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Villayet Saint-Dominique Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001284|IA2B001284 Villayet Saint-Dominique Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Saint-Antoine Convent Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001270|IA2B001270 Villayet Saint-Antoine Convent Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Napoleon Monument''' (1813){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001772|IA2B001772 }}{{Mérimée|PA2B000012|PA2B000012 Napoleon Monument}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Donati Pleasure Garden'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001272|IA2B001272 Donati Pleasure Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Providence Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001276|IA2B001276 Providence Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Flach Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001274|IA2B001274 Flach Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Bon Pasteur Courtyard Garden'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001269|IA2B001269 Bon Pasteur Courtyard Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Villa Fumarolli Pleasure Garden''' (19th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001275|IA2B001275 Villa Fumarolli Pleasure Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Sainte-Victoire Public Garden'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001273|IA2B001273 Sainte-Victoire Public Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Maison Castagnola''' (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00125389|PA00125389 Maison Castagnola}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Maison de Caraffa''' (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA2B000017|PA2B000017 Maison de Caraffa}} {{Camera}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Governor's Citadel and Palace''' (14th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099158|PA0099158 Governor's Citadel and Palace}} {{Camera}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> The former palace of the Genoese governors houses the municipal museum, formerly the Ethnology Museum of Corsica.<ref>[http://www.musee-bastia.com/ Bastia Museum website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114165200/http://www.musee-bastia.com/ |date=14 November 2012 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> Abutting the old fortress tower and decorated with a 14th-century [[campanile]], the Palace of Governors over the centuries guarded Terra Nova and beyond the ramparts of the Old Port. The city has undertaken a program of renovation of the palace under the direction of architects Cléris Daniel and Jean-Michel Daubourg. Besides the renovation of the palace the work helped to rebuild the part of the monument that was destroyed in 1943 during the fighting for the liberation of Corsica. The new museum was inaugurated in June 2010. The museum collections are organized into four themes: birth and urban growth, centre of power, cultural centre, and the Palace of Governors. The turret of the submarine Casabianca was preserved in the courtyard until the renovations.
* The '''Mattei Terraces'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001286|IA2B001286 Mattei Terraces}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Villa Lota Garden''' (20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001285|IA2B001285 Villa Lota Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Cardo Cemetery Garden''' (20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001283|IA2B001283 Cardo Cemetery Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''German Cemetery Garden''' (20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001268|IA2B001268 German Cemetery Garden}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Bosquet Pecunia Green Area'''{{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B001267|IA2B001267 Bosquet Pecunia Green Area}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* A '''Foundry''' (1870){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B000560|IA2B000560 Foundry}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Cardo Copper Mine''' (1868){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B000372|IA2B000372 Cardo Copper Mine}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Toga Iron Works''' (1842){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|IA2B000941|IA2B000941 Toga Iron Works}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

===Religious heritage===
The commune has many religious buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:
* The '''Old Church at Cardo''' (13th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099179|PA00099179 Old Church at Cardo}} {{Camera}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Church of Saint Charles''' (1612){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA2B000006|PA2B000006 Church of Saint Charles}} {{Camera}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Church or Oratory of Saint Roch''' (1604){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA2B000007|PA2B000007 Church or Oratory of Saint Roch}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Parish Centre of Notre-Dame des Victoires''' (20th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA2B000013|PA2B000013 Parish Centre of Notre-Dame des Victoires}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Church of Notre-Dame de Montserato''' (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name="ReferenceA">Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00135318|PA00135318 Church of Notre-Dame de Montserato}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''Church of Saint-Étienne de Cardo''' (1838){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00125388|PA00125388 Church of Saint-Étienne de Cardo}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''[[Bastia Cathedral|Church of Sainte-Marie]]''' (17th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref name="ReferenceA"/> a former Cathedral built in 1495 but heavily remodeled in the early 17th century, is located in the heart of the citadel.
* The '''[[Église Sainte-Croix de Bastia|Church of Saint-Croix]]''' (18th century){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099161|PA00099161 Church of Saint-Croix}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>
* The '''[[Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Bastia|Church of Saint John the Baptist]]''' (1636){{Mérimée Icon}},<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099160|PA00099160 Church of Saint John the Baptist}} {{Camera}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> one of the most emblematic monuments of the city of Bastia. Overlooking the Old Port, it was built from 1583 but experienced many additional worksjobs through the ages. It features a high classical façade, largely hidden by neighbouring buildings and a baroque interior from the 18th century.
* The '''Church of the Conception''' (1611){{Mérimée Icon}}<ref>Ministry of Culture, Mérimée {{Mérimée|PA00099159|PA00099159 Church of the Conception}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref>

The churches contain a very large number of items which are registered as historical objects. In total (including civil heritage) there are more than 200 historical objects in Bastia.<ref>{{Search Palissy|2B033}}</ref>

===Gastronomy===
Some culinary specialties from Bastia and its region:
* ''Sardines au brocciu'': fresh sardines stuffed with Brocciu cheese made from sheep milk;
* ''Baccalà'': from [[cod]]; this dish was long considered the dish of the poor in Corsica because its price was affordable and it kept easily due to being heavily salted.

===Films made in Bastia===
[[File:Bastia Urbanisme Toits 2015-08-13.jpg|thumb|View over the rooftops of Bastia]]

* ''[[Cela s'appelle l'aurore]]'', French-Italian film by [[Luis Buñuel]] in 1955.
* ''[[Rosebud (1975 film)|Rosebud]]'', American film by [[Otto Preminger]] in 1975.
* ''[[Forza Bastia]]'', French documentary by [[Jacques Tati]] and [[Sophie Tatischeff]] in 1978.
* ''Les Déracinés'', French television film by [[Jacques Renard]] broadcast in 2000.
* ''[[L'Enquête Corse]]'', French film by [[Alain Berbérian]] in 2004.
* ''[[The Man from London]]'', British-German-Hungarian film by [[Béla Tarr]] based on a novel by Georges Simenon.
* ''[[Mafiosa (TV series)|Mafiosa]]'', French television series filmed mainly around Bastia and in [[Haute-Corse]] during the third season.

== Notable people ==
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦---> 
* [[Romain Achilli]] (born 1993), footballer
* [[Jean-Félix Acquaviva]] (born 1973), politician
* [[Dominique Agostini]] (born 1989), footballer
* [[Hugo Aine]] (born 1995), footballer
* [[Louis Ferdinand Antoni]] (1872-1940), painter and sculptor
* [[Benjamin Basteres]] (born 1984), rugby union player
* [[Jean Bastia]] (1919–2005), film director, screenwriter and film producer
* [[Léo Battesti]] (born 1953), politician and chess enthusiast
* [[Chaouki Ben Saada]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Vincent Benedetti]] (1817–1900), diplomat, main architect of the declaration of the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870.
* [[Patrick Beneforti]] (born 1980), footballer
* [[Julien Benhaim]] (born 1996), footballer
* [[John Bernard (American politician)|John Bernard]] (1893–1983), American politician, representing Minnesota in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
* [[Pierre Bianconi]] (born 1962), footballer
* [[Gian Paolo Borghetti]] (1816-1897), writer, poet and politician
* [[Victor Bourret]] (1877-1949), general and military administrator
* [[Eva Colas]] (born 1996), model and beauty pageant titleholder 
* [[Juan Bertoli Calderoni]] (1820-1885), architect
* [[Pascal Camadini]] (born 1972), footballer
* [[Pierre Campana]] (born 1985), rally driver
* [[César Campinchi]] (1882–1941), lawyer, minister and French man of state, Minister of Marine and Minister in the [[Daladier]] and [[Reynaud]] governments in 1939 and 1940.
* [[Louis Capazza]] (1862–1928), bassoonist
* [[Jean-Luc Carbuccia]] (1808-1854), general and archaeologist 
* [[Michel Castellani]] (born 1945), politician
* [[Charles Ceccaldi-Raynaud]] (1925-2019), lawyer and politician
* [[Antoine Cervetti]] (born 1961), footballer
* [[Gilles Cioni]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Paul-André Colombani]] (born 1967), politician
* [[Gary Coulibaly]] (born 1986), footballer
* [[Jacques Cristofari]] (born 1978), footballer
* [[Clothilde de Bernardi]] (born 1994), tennis player
* [[Paul de Casabianca]] (1839-1916), lawyer and politician 
* [[Jean-Marie De Zerbi]] (born 1959), footballer
* [[John Filippi]] (born 1995), racing driver
* [[Rino Corso Fougier]] (1894-1963), general of the Italian Royal Air Force
* [[Jean Baptiste, baron Franceschi]], (1766-1813), general
* [[Christophe Gaffory]] (born 1988), footballer
* [[Baptiste Giabiconi]] (born 1989), [[male model]] and pop singer
* [[Matthieu Gianni]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Jean César Graziani]] (1859-1932), army general 
* [[Paul-André Guérin]] (born 1997), footballer
* [[Pierre Huard]] (1901–1983), professor of medicine
* [[Tilly Key]] (born 1984), singer
* [[Jean-Christophe Lamberti]] (born 1982), footballer
* [[André Lanata]] (born 1961), fighter pilot and Chief of Staff of the French Air Force  
* [[Jean-Louis Leca]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Louis Leschi]] (1893–1954), historian
* [[Cécile Lignot-Maubert]] (born 1971), hammer thrower
* [[Anthony Lippini]] (born 1988), footballer
* [[Laurent Lokoli]] (born 1994), tennis player
* [[Grégory Lorenzi]] (born 1983), footballer
* [[Pierre-Louis Loubet]] (born 1997), rally driver
* [[José Luccioni (tenor)|José Luccioni]] (1903–1978), operatic tenor singer
* [[Julien Maggiotti]] (born 1995, footballer
* [[Jean-Jacques Mandrichi]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Gérard Mannoni]] (1928-2020), sculptor
* [[Henri Martelli]] (1895–1980), composer
* [[Marc'Andria Maurizzi]] (born 2007), chess grandmaster
* [[François Modesto]] (born 1978), footballer
* [[Michel Moretti]] (born 1989), football manager and former player
* [[Xavier Musca]] (born 1960), economist
* [[Henry Padovani]] (born 1952), first guitarist of the musical group [[The Police]]
* [[Olivier Pantaloni]] (born 1966), football manager and former player
* [[José Pasqualetti]] (born 1956), footballer
* [[Guillaume Pianelli]] (born 1998), footballer
* [[François Piétri]] (1882–1966), politician
* [[Louis Poggi (footballer)|Louis Poggi]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Henriette Puig-Roget]] (1910-1992), pianist and organist
* [[Ottaviano Raggi]] (1592-1643), Catholic cardinal
* [[Adil Rami]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Marie Reynoard]] (1897-1945), member of French resistance 
* [[Angelo Rinaldi]] (born 1940), novelist and literary critic
* [[Jean-Jacques Rocchi]] (born 1989), footballer
* [[Bruno Rodriguez (footballer)|Bruno Rodriguez]] (born 1972), footballer
* [[Julien Romain]] (born 1996), footballer
* [[Anthony Roncaglia]] (born 2000), footballer
* [[Stéphane Rossi]] (born 1964), football manager and former player
* [[Anthony Salis]] (born 1988), footballer
* [[Benjamin Santelli]] (born 1991), footballer 
* [[Vincent Seatelli]] (born 1971), footballer
* [[Gilles Simeoni]] (born 1967), lawyer and politician
* [[Owen Simonin]] (born 1997), entrepreneur and influencer
* Pierre-François Sodini (born 1989), footballer 
* [[Patrice Sorbara]] (born 1985), footballer
* [[Domenico Maria Spinola]] (1666-1743), Doge of the Republic of Genoa and king of Corsica.
* [[Paul Squaglia]] (born 1964), footballer
* [[Pierre Tardi]] (1897-1972), geophysicist, astronomer, and geographer
* [[Jean Joseph Valéry]] (1828-1879), shipowner and politician 
* [[César Vezzani]] (1888–1951), one of the most famous singers of the 20th century. "Emperor of Tenors" according to [[Tsar Nicolas II]].
* [[Michele Viale-Prelà]] (1798-1860), Catholic priest
* [[Paul Vincensini]] (1896-1978), mathematician
* [[Thomas Vincensini]] (born 1993), footballer
* [[Émile Zuccarelli]] (born 1940), politician

== See also ==
* [[Gang de la Brise de Mer]] – one of the most powerful [[Corsican mafia]] organisations
* [[SC Bastia]] – football club
* [[Railway stations in Corsica]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
<references group="Note"/>

===References===
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography ==
* ''Corsica – and its Romanesque chapels'', Stéphane Massiani, May 1991, A. Robert, 13011 Marseille, Bastia: Chapelle San Sarorio, p.&nbsp;45 {{in lang|fr}}
* ''Dictionary of Chateaux and Fortifications of France in the Middle Ages'', éditions Publitotal, Charles-Laurent Salch, 1978, reprint 1991, Strasbourg, 1287 pages, {{ISBN|2-86535-070-3}}, p.&nbsp;109 : Bastia: City Walls of "Terra Nova" {{in lang|fr}}
* ''Power and Fortifications in the north of Corsica 11th – 14th century'', éditions Alain Piazzola, Daniel Istria, May 2005, Ajaccio, {{ISBN|2-915410-14-3}} {{in lang|fr}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bastia}}
{{wikivoyage|Bastia}}
* [http://www.bastia.fr/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301184739/http://www.bastia.fr/ |date=1 March 2017 }} {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://ultrasbastiacci.online.fr/ Bastia Fansite] {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.bastiaairport.com/ Unofficial Guide to Bastia Airport] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831060403/http://www.bastiaairport.com/ |date=31 August 2009 }}
* [http://www.corse.fr/Inventaire-du-patrimoine_a484.html Corsica Cultural Heritage website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407035241/http://www.corse.fr/Inventaire-du-patrimoine_a484.html |date=7 April 2011 }} {{in lang|fr}}

{{Geographic location
|title='''Neighbouring communes and villages'''
|Centre    = Bastia 
|North     = [[Ville-di-Pietrabugno]]
|Northeast = [[Tyrrhenian Sea]]
|East      = Tyrrhenian Sea
|Southeast = Tyrrhenian Sea
|South     = [[Furiani]]
|Southwest = [[Barbaggio]]
|West      = [[Patrimonio]]
|Northwest = [[Farinole]]
}}
{{Prefectures of departments of France}}
{{Haute-Corse communes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bastia| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Haute-Corse]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]